Work Text:
Kris wasn't anywhere to be found. At least not in front of their conga line of teammates, leading the way as their great leader, that was. Susie was getting worried, so she politely asked Berdly to go and look for them, and Susie usually never does things "politely" so that was an astounding cause for concern for Ralsei. Berdly wasn't as close-knit to the rest of the friendgroup yet, so he wasn't as knowledgeable of Susie's personality as the rest of them, he just assumed this was her normal way of asking favors.
Oh the poor fool, as he'll soon come to find out…
He went a little ways back from where the rest of the group was chatting things up, Kris isn't the type to wander very far away from their friends most of the time, Berdly has noticed. And he's noticed a lot of things about Kris ever since joining the group, possibly more than they have he thinks, but of course HE in particular would think that.
It still kind of bothers him to admit, but he and Kris have gotten pretty… close, to say. Not close as in they regularly kiss behind their comrades' backs or whatever, but close as meaning intimate; in a way that Kris isn't with any other of their team.
Of course, this treatment pleases Berdly. It boosts his pride whenever people treat him special to others, especially ones he's come to care about. But as he's done with his thoughts, Berdly finally finds Kris sitting alone by a cliffside not too far away as expected… shivering.
Berdly grows concerned on instant seeing them in the state and quickly approaches to their side. He looks down towards Kris, waiting for them to stand up so he can lead them back to their group. But they won't stop shivering… or rather, maybe they can't stop shivering.
It's likely, and Berdly knows it's likely, so that's why he sits down next to them; arms crossed. Kris is sort of curled up; as in they have one leg slumped, and another still standing with an arm resting over it's knee. Their head is using the rested arm as a makeshift pillow for comfort. As Berdly looks towards them, he sees it in their eyes… sorrow.
Berdly is used to Kris looking like that, they've looked that way every time the two of them have seen each other after all… but this time is different. This isn't the typical, "Kris is gloomy and anti-social" demeanor that he's accustomed with. No, this time… they simply look… defeated. Sad and defeated by life.
Berdly knows that look, and can surely empathize with it himself. Perhaps he should let them know that… it might help them more than he thinks it will. But just as he opens his mouth, Kris beats him to the speaking punch.
"Berdly… hey, what's up?" they say.
Kris speaking was something very rare back in the day, but he's been around them enough by now to have heard them speaking more frequently. It's still uncommon for certain, but not gasp-worthy any longer. Berdly takes a moment to clear his throat before responding.
"Ahh, Kris… didn't notice you there. The team's wondering why you're over here instead of where they are again." he explains.
Kris laughs. It's hardly anything genuine.
Then, they sigh. And decide to remain silent for the time-being. They don't feel too comfortable speaking out loud, that much has been clear to him from the start. Berdly opens his beak to speak again.
"You-"
"I can't face them right now." they interrupt.
Rude, but Berdly will let it slide because they're clearly upset for a reason.
"Oh yeah? Why not?" he questions.
Kris takes a deep breath, struggling to maintain their typically neutral expression as glimpses of a genuine frown become noticeable between their lips. The ever-so-slight squinting of their only visible eye being another indicator of their hidden feelings.
"I uhh… don't know it entirely myself, actually." they answer.
Berdly scoffs into a laugh, he can't help himself. That lie was so blatant that even a child would be suspicious of it.
"Please Kris, that won't work on me." he says.
Kris glances over towards him, clearly taken aback by his words.
"Huh?" they quietly exclaim.
Berdly shakes his head disapprovingly. Obviously, Kris is smart, possibly the smartest individual Berdly knows besides Noelle. So to hear them come up with such a blatant lie so easy to see through makes him feel… slightly miffed. But he pushes the feeling aside, just in case he's wrong again.
"I think you're lying. And I also think you're hiding how you really feel from me." he accuses.
Kris attempts to act coy in the moment, but drops it almost immediately when seeing how ineffective their deception is. All they can do now is sigh and let their frown be known.
"You're right, as always…" they say.
"Hah, why thank yo-"
"You're right about a lot of things, aren't you?" they continue, interrupting yet again.
One of Berdly's greatest pet peeves is when people interrupt him, but he stifles his annoyance purely for Kris' sake. Although, they're only so lucky because they're so pitiful right now. And they also complimented him just now, so how can he be angry in response to praise? It's simply unbefitting of him.
"You were right about where to go, you were right about what we should've done…" Kris says, clearly stalling.
They pause, not wanting to conclude this train of thought. But Berdly's looking at them too expectantly for them to just quit now. So they gulp it down, that feeling of sorrow overwhelming them. They don't want to appear too weak after all, not in front of him.
"And you were right about… most of all… me." they admit.
The way Berdly's facial expression shifts from one of expectant curiosity to one of perplexity is telling of how he feels about what Kris just admitted.
"Wait, what? How was I… right about you?" he questions.
Kris can't help but smile at the bird's ignorance. And Berdly can tell there's nothing joyful about that smile they're currently wearing.
"You were right about how I'm an idiot, you were right about how I'm worth less, you're just… spot on, everything you've said about me." they admit.
Berdly can't lie, Kris' admittion just now made his heart sink, and it only got lower and lower the more they went on. Kris looks like they're trying their hardest not to cry, and Berdly just feels terrible now.
"Kris… all those things I said… I-"
"Yeah, I know. You don't need to expla-"
"I never meant them. Any of them." he clarifies.
Berdly is giving Kris a look that they've never seen from him before. He looks… totally serious. None of that "know it all" snark, or that charmed exaggeration, just completely, honestly, serious. And yet, despite the way he looks, Berdly can't help but laugh a little.
"Honestly, I thought by now that you'd have known not to care about what that annoying, bully of a birdbrain had to say by now…" he says, sucking back a couple light tears from omitting out his eyes.
Kris looks back at him, smiling. They begin laughing too, and their smile looks genuinely happy this time. Even though it's not that pretty, full-toothed grin smile Berdly has only seen once before, it's perfect enough for him. He's just glad to see Kris looking to be in better shape now than they were two minutes ago. Their laughter expands, but remains light, and it's beautiful while it lasts.
Kris sighs again. "Thank you Berdly. I'm glad it was you who came and found me."
Berdly looks at them with skepticism, and a raised brow chalk-full of suspicion.
"Is that another lie?" he questions.
Kris shakes their head, making full-on eye contact with him at this point.
"Nope." they say bluntly.
Berdly can't help but smile and blush himself, flustered by Kris' sudden kindness. He really still isn't used to being treated like this by them, as good as it feels. Suddenly, Kris scoots closer beside him, laying down their whole head weight over his feathery shoulder. Now THAT'S gasp-worthy right there.
Berdly's eyes now awkwardly shy away from them, as Kris' shut entirely, while wrapping their arms around him. This further serves to shock Berdly, but he's quick to get over it, as Kris' warmth eases him into a state of relaxation. They're warm, so warm… much warmer than they appear. It makes him yawn.
"Alright Kris, that's enough. I'm getting tired now… how about we go back to the others and-, …K-Kris?"
He looks over and Kris appears to be fast asleep. Berdly is left in a quiet state of contemplation for a moment, before being overcome by emotion. He cries a few light tears before brushing them aside. It feels good to be wanted… especially by someone you love.
"Ohh, fuck it…" Berdly mutters.
He embraces him back, leaning his head atop Kris' as they huddle together into some sort of sleepy blob of mass. As his eyes blink to a full shut, he himself can no longer refuse a good slumber. They feel much better now that they're no longer shivering, after all.